Riots have broken out in Londonderry after it was revealed Bernadette Devlin had been arrested.

The Mid-Ulster MP was to address a meeting in Bogside before handing herself in to police after she lost an appeal against her December conviction.

Miss Devlin, 23, was sentenced to six-months in jail for her part in the Bogside riots in 1969. She appealed against the decision but the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal rejected her application earlier today.

Speaking just before her arrest Miss Devlin said: "I was involved with people in defending their area. They were justified in defending themselves and I believe I was justified in assisting their defence."

"If the same circumstances rose again I would have no problems helping them again" she added.

Things are going backwards again instead of going forwards

Brigadier Alan Cowan

The police decided to arrest Miss Devlin at a roadblock just outside Londonderry in the hope it would prevent any violent protests.

But the plan backfired when news of the arrest reached the waiting crowds at Bogside.

Violence flared as youths threw stones and quickly escalated to the use of petrol bombs. Soldiers responded with CS gas.

More than 20 soldiers are reported to have been injured. Four have been taken to hospital.

Brigadier Alan Cowan, Commander of the Eighth Infantry Brigade said: "It is very sad indeed. There have been many weeks of quiet and now things are going backwards again instead of going forwards."

The area around Bogside has now been sealed off to prevent further trouble.

Miss Devlin was convicted on three charges of incitement to riot and one of rioting.